How to check a subcontractor’s insurance certificate of currency

What a certificate of currency is

Tasmania’s Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) describes a Certificate of Currency as “proof that you hold a current insurance policy and includes the details and expiry of the policy.” It typically includes the insured party’s details, the policy number and type, the start and end dates, and the sum insured (the maximum amount the policy covers).

CBOS also says it will not accept an invoice, a policy schedule, or a letter of eligibility as a certificate of currency. If a subcontractor sends one of those documents instead, ask for the certificate itself.

What to check on every certificate

• The insured name matches the subcontractor’s legal entity — the same name and, where shown, the same ABN you verified. You can check an ABN on the Australian Business Register.
• The policy type is the cover you actually asked for, such as public liability or workers compensation. A certificate for a different class of insurance is not evidence of the cover you need.
• The policy period includes the dates the work will be done. A certificate that has already expired, or that ends mid-job, is not current for the whole engagement.
• The sum insured, limit of liability or declared wages (as relevant) meets whatever minimum your contract or site requires. Datesly does not set a legal minimum amount — that comes from the contract, the site, or a licensing rule.
• Any exclusions, activities or situation limits that would leave the work uninsured.

Workers compensation certificates in NSW

For workers compensation in NSW, icare says a Certificate of Currency “shows that your Workers Compensation insurance policy is active and up to date.” It includes the business name and ABN, employee wages, industry classification and the number of workers covered.

icare notes that employers may be asked for a certificate to show that insurance is current — “for example, in construction employers may need to show a Certificate of Currency to give workers access to a job site” — or to meet contract or compliance requirements. icare also provides an Employer Lookup tool that can confirm whether a policy is in place, but it does not show the detailed figures on the certificate.

How to request and keep it

Ask the subcontractor for a current certificate before work starts, and for a new one before the old certificate expires if the engagement continues. Most insurers let the policyholder download a certificate from their portal. Keep a copy with the contract, record the expiry date, and check the document again if the subcontractor’s business name or ABN changes. You can use Datesly’s free subcontractor insurance tracker to record those dates.

Insurance requirements are usually set by the contract, the principal contractor, the site owner, or a licensing rule — not by a single national form. This page explains how to read a certificate. It is not advice about how much cover you must hold.